Binder



1930. c. E. SHEPPARD- BINDER Filed April 19, 1929 2 Sheets-S et 1 Feb.4, 1930.

c. E; SHEPPARD 1,746,015

BINDER Filed April 19, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 4, 1930PATENT OFFICE CHARLES EDWIN SHEPPARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BINDER Application filed April 19,

g This invention relates to loose leaf binders, and more particularly toa hinged binder having a new and improved catch mechanism. I

The invention provides a simplified catch for a loose leaf binder whichmay be selectively locked in a plurality of positions and in which thecatch may be released by the same manual operation that is required toopen the binder. The invention accordingly permits a single operation tobe employed for releasing the catch mechanism and extending the binderto open position.

The invention further provides a simplified means for mounting arcuated,leaf posts whereby they may be readily inserted in aligned positionconcentrically with the axis of the binder hinge. For this purpose theosts are formed with an integral shoulder and plane surfaced shankswhich cooperate with holes of a similar shape in the binder elements forsuitably aligning the posts, the ends of the shanks being adapted to beriveted into engaging position for securing the posts in the binderwithout the use 'of additional guiding elements.

In accordance with the present invention a plurality of cooperatinglatch members are provided at separated points along the hinged elementsof the binder. Each of the latch members is rovided with a plurality ofcatches where y the binder may be locked in closed or in partly openedpositions. The latches are controlled by a thumb lever which ispositioned adjacent the end of the binder and is movable in a directiontransverse to the axis of the binder, hinge whereby a single motion ofthe hands may be employed for binder.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features ofconstruction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth andclaimed. H

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic ofthis invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appendedhereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the modeof its operation and the manner of its organizain the several figures ofthe drawings.

releasing the catch and for opening the .1929. Serial No. 356,392.

tion may be better understood by referring to the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a partthereof, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the binder in open position;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the binder in open position; I Fig. 3 is aplan view of the binder in partly open position with fragmentarysections of the' frame pieces removed to' show details of the latchdevice;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section Fig.4; and 1 Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are enlarged detailsof the improved leaf post. Like reference characters denote like partstaken on line 55 of In the following description and in the claims partswill be identified by specific names for convenience, but they areintended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as theart will permit. I

Referring to the drawings more in detail the invention is shown asapplied to a binder comprising a pair of frame pieces 1 and '2 havingupstanding flanges 3 and 4 respectively, which are adapted to receivearcuate binder posts 5 and to support cover members 6 and 7. Framepieces 1 and 2 are also provided with downwardly extending flanges, 8and 9 respectively, terminating in hinge knuckles 10 and-11 by means ofwhich they are joined in pivotal relationship to form a hinge 12.

Covers 6 and 7 are secured to strips 15 and 16 respectively by anysuitable means, said. strips being pivotally secured to upstandingflanges 3 and 4 by means of cooperating hinge knuckles 17 and 18 andpintle wires 19 and ,Arcuate posts 5 are provided with an integrallyformed shoulder '25 and plane-surfaced shanks 26 which are adapted to bepassed through apertures of corresponding cross section in flanges 3 and4 and riveted into engagement therewith as shown in Fig. 7. Theplane-surfaced shanks of posts 5 have been shown as square incross-section, although it is obvious that other non-circular forms maybeemployed for automaticallyaligning the posts in the desired position.

I of bell-crank levers 30, 31 which are pivoted as by rivets 32, 33 tothe underside of frame piece 2 at points preferably widely spacedlongitudinally thereof. Said bell-crank levers 30, 31 are provided witharcuate arms 34 which are extended through suitable apertures in flange9 of frame piece 2 and are provided with catches 36, 37, which engagethe side of suitable slots 38 in flange 8 of frame piece 1. Springs 40cooperate with said bell-crank levers and with frame piece 2 fornormally maintaining said levers in engaging position. Link 41,pivotally connected to arms 34 of levers 30, 31, causes said levers tomove as a unit.

Arm 42 of lever 30 is extended outwardly past frame piece 2 and issuitably bent at its end portion to provide thumb piece 43 by means ofwhich the latching mechanism above described may be manually controlled.

Thumb piece 43 moves in a horizontal direction transverse to the axis ofhinge 12. Consequently, the latching mechanism may be released bytransverse pressure on the thumb piece with the same movement that isrequired to open the binder.

Catches 37 are so positioned that they engage the sidesof slots 38 tosecure the binder in closed position. Catches 36 are provided at the endof arms 34 and secure the binder in partly open position as shown inFig. 4. In this position pins 5 overlap slightly thereby preventing thefiller sheets from being re moved, while the pressure on these sheets issufliciently relieved to allow them to lie in a substantially flatposition on covers 6 and 7.

Back pieces 45 are secured to frame pieces 1 and 2 and provide a partialclosure for the latching mechanism and a support'for the back of thebinder. These members may be secured to frame pieces 1 and 2 in anycon-. venient manner as by rivets 46. End closures 47 are secured toframe pieces 1 and 2 inany convenient manner to form a complete closureforthe latching mechanism thereby protecting the same from injury and,causing the ex posed parts of the binder to present a neat Back pieces45 are extendedbeyond framepieces 1 and. 2 flush with thumb piece 43 toprovide finger-engaging sections appearance.

48. Sections 48, in addition to concealing thumb piece 43 and protectingthe same against accidental displacement, provide a convenient surfacefor griping the binder when the same is to be opened or closed.

The binder above described is normally held in closed position bycatches 37 on bellcrank levers 30 and 31, which are held by springs 40in engaging position with flange 8 of frame piece 1. When it is desiredto make entries in the binder the, sheets comprising the filler may becaused to lie flat along covers 6 and 7 by extending the binder topartly open position. This is accomplished by gripping finger pieces 48and thumb .piece 43 and exerting transverse pressure thereon whichcauses suitable rotation of bell-crank levers 30 and 31, and to releasethe catches 37 and produces pivotal movement of the frame pieces abouthinge 12. The binder is thus extended to the position in which catches36 are then engaged by flange .8 of frame piece 1, thereby securing thebinder against further opening. Since the posts are in partlyinterleaved position the sheets may be turned as desired, but cannot beremoved from the binder. I

When it is desired to completely open the binder to the position shownin'Fig. 2, finger pieces 48 and thumb piece 43 are again gripped andtransverse pressure applied to release catches 36 and to cause furtherpivotal movement of the frame pieces about hinge 12. To close the binderit is only necessary to apply pressure in the proper direction to backpieces 45, since springs 40 cause the latchin mechanism to beautomatically operated. The binder is accordingly locked in eitherpartly open or in closed position without further manipulation of thumbpiece 43.

It is to be noted that the above described mechanism provides a. simpleand efficient means for operating a binder whereby a single motion ofthe hands may be employed for releasing the catch and forcing the binderinto open position. This is effected by reason of the catch being sopositioned that hori- --zontal movement transverse to the axis of ingwhen the necessary pressure is employed for releasing the catches sincethe force applied to the catch is utilized entirely in forcing thebinder into open position. v

By forming the posts as above described of single elements on which theshoulders and square ends are integrally formed the necessity for usinga plurality of separate elements, such as washers,'is avoided and theconstruction simplified. The square shanks cause the posts togbeautomatically aligned in the required position without the use of anymeasuring or aligning and further simplifies the assembling operation.

Although a particulartype of catch has been shown for purposes ofillustration, it is obvious that the invention may be applied to othertypes of catches, and that various forms'of posts may be employed inaccordance with the purpose for which the binder is to be employed.

While certain novel features of the invention have been shown anddescribed and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will beunderstood that various'omissions, substitutions and changes in theforms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may bemade by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

What is claimed is:

' 1. Ina loose leaf binder, a pair of frame pieces, hinged means forinterconnecting said frame pieces, and latching mechanism carried by oneof said frame pieces and cooperating with the other of said frame piecescomprising a pair of levers spaced longitudinally of said frame piecesand having arcuate arms extending beyond one of said frame pieces intoengagement with the other of said frame pieces.

2. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of frame pieces, hinge means forinterconnecting said frame pieces, and latching mechanism carried byoneof said frame pieces and cooperating with the'other of said framepieces, comprising a pair of levers spaced longitudinally of said framepieces and having arcu ate arms extending'beyond one of said framepieces into engagement with the other of said frame pieces, one of saidlevers having a second arm extending at approximately right-angles tosaid first arm and provided at its end with a thumb piece which is mov-'able about the pivot of said lever in a direction transverse to the axisof the binder hinge. 3. In a loose leaf binder, a pair of frame ieceshin e means for ivotall intercon-' necting said frame -pieces, a pair oflevers having arcuatearms pivotally secured to one of said frame piecesand provided with catches engaging the other of said frame pieces, acontrol arm carried by one of said levers and extending at right-anglesto said.

v tending flanges, covers secured to said upwardly extending flanges,latching mechanism pivotally carried by one of said frame pieces andextending through its downwardly extending flange into engagement withthe other of said frame pieces, said mechanism comprising an arcuate armhaving a plurality of catch members thereon and a control arm extendingat right angles thereto ment with the other of said frame pieces, saidmechanism comprising an arcuate arm having a plurality of catch membersthereon and a control arm extending at right angles thereto and providedwith a thumb piece accessible from the end of said binder, said thumbpiece being movable in a direction transverse to the binder hingewhereby the same movement may be employed by releasing said latchingmechanism and for openlng said binder.

6. In a loose leafbinder, a pair of frame pieces havingdownwardlyextending flanges and upwardly extending flanges, hinged meansinterconnecting said downwardly extending flanges, covers secured tosaid upwardly extending flanges, latching mechanism pivotally carried byone of said frame pieces and extending through its downwardly extendingflange into engagement with the other of said frame pieces, saidmechanism comprising an arcuate arm having a plurality of catchmcmbersthereon and a control arm extending at right angles thereto and providedwith a thumb piece accessible from the end of said binder, and backpieces secured to said frame pieces and forming a partial closure forthe latching mechanism and a supwardly extending flanges, latchingmechanism pivotally carried .by one of said frame pieces and extendingthrough its downwardly extending flange into engagement with the otherof said frame pieces, said mechanism comprising an arcuate arm having aplurality of catch members thereon and a control arm extending at rightangles thereto and provided with a thumb piece accessible from the endof said binder, back pieces secured to said frame pieces and forming apartial closure for the latching mechanism and a support for the binderback, and end closures carried by said frame pieces and extendingbetween said frame pieces and said back pieces.

8. In combination with a device of the class described a pair oflongitudinally hinged frame pieces, a plurality of leaf posts secured tosaid frame pieces, a plurality of spring pressed bell crank levers,links mutually connecting said bell crank levers for co-operativeaction, arcuated latch members formed on an arm of said bell cranklever, said latch members having a first catch member which locks theframe pieces against relative displacement, and a second catch elementadapted to maintain said frame pieces in an intermediate positionagainst further outward displacement, an arm on one of said bell cranklevers extending beyond the longitudinal end of said frame pieces topresent an exposed portion whereby said catches may be released bytransverse pressure on said exposed portion.

9. In combination with a device of the class described, a pair oflongitudinally hinged frame pieces, a plurality of leaf posts secured tosaid frame pieces, a plurality of spring pressed bell crank levers,links mutually connecting said bell crank levers for co-operativeaction, latch members integral with said bell crank lever, said latchmembers having a first catch member which locks the elements of thebinder against relative displacement, and a second catch element adaptedto maintain the frame pieces in'an intermediate position against furtheroutward displacement, means for releasing said first and second catchelements, said means being rendered operative by transverse pressure onone of said crank levers, and means for automatically renderingoperative said catch elements successively when the frame pieces areswung into closed position. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set myhand.

CHARLES EDWVIN SHEPPARD. v

